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Zoho Expense vs Pleo (2024 Comparison)

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Author

Martin Lunendonk

Last Update

Nov 15, 2024

We earn a commission from partner links on Keevee. Commissions do not affect our editor's opinions or evaluations.

Excellent Value For Price
4.3

0

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Zoho Expense

Zoho Expense offers comprehensive features and robust policy enforcement, making it a great choice for businesses looking to optimize their expense management processes. Its wide range of integrations ensures seamless data flow.

  • Comprehensive reporting and analytics.
  • Wide range of integrations.
  • Robust policy enforcement.
  • Interface can be overwhelming.
  • Requires time to explore features.

Free plan?

Yes

Starting price

$3 per user/month
Good Value For Price
4.1

0

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Pleo

Pleo provides a user-friendly interface and smart company cards, simplifying expense management for businesses. Its efficient receipt scanning capabilities make it ideal for companies with employees who frequently travel.

  • User-friendly interface.
  • Smart company cards.
  • Efficient receipt scanning.
  • Limited integration options.
  • Higher cost for advanced features.

Free plan?

Yes

Starting price

£39 per month

What is Zoho Expense?

Zoho Expense is a comprehensive expense management software designed to streamline the process of tracking and managing business expenses. It offers features like automated expense reporting, receipt scanning, and integration with various accounting software. This tool helps businesses save time and reduce errors by automating mundane tasks, allowing employees to focus on more strategic activities. With Zoho Expense, you can easily monitor spending patterns, enforce company policies, and ensure compliance, making it an invaluable tool for finance teams.

What is Pleo?

Pleo is an innovative expense management solution that simplifies the way businesses handle employee expenses. It provides smart company cards that automatically categorize expenses, making it easier for employees to manage their spending. Pleo's intuitive platform allows for real-time tracking and reporting, reducing the administrative burden on finance teams. By offering seamless integration with accounting software, Pleo ensures that businesses can maintain accurate financial records effortlessly. This tool is ideal for companies looking to enhance their expense management processes and improve overall efficiency.

Pros and Cons of Zoho Expense vs Pleo

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Pros & Cons of Zoho Expense

Comprehensive reporting and analytics
  • Zoho Expense offers detailed reporting and analytics, providing businesses with valuable insights into spending patterns and helping them make informed financial decisions. This feature is particularly useful for finance teams looking to optimize their expense management processes.
Wide range of integrations
  • With Zoho Expense, you can integrate with a variety of popular accounting and business tools, ensuring seamless data flow and reducing manual data entry. This flexibility makes it a great choice for businesses with diverse software ecosystems.
Robust policy enforcement
  • Zoho Expense allows businesses to set and enforce spending limits and guidelines, ensuring compliance with company policies. This feature helps prevent overspending and ensures that employees adhere to established financial protocols.
Interface can be overwhelming
  • The extensive features and options available in Zoho Expense can make the interface feel cluttered and overwhelming for new users. It may take some time to become familiar with all the functionalities and navigate the platform efficiently.
Requires time to explore features
  • Zoho Expense offers a wide range of features, which can be both a pro and a con. While the features are comprehensive, it may take time for users to fully explore and utilize all the available functionalities, especially for those new to expense management software.
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Pros & Cons of Pleo

User-friendly interface
  • Pleo's intuitive and user-friendly interface makes it easy for employees to manage their expenses without extensive training. This simplicity is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to streamline their expense management processes and reduce administrative burdens.
Smart company cards
  • Pleo's smart company cards automatically categorize expenses, simplifying the approval process and reducing the need for manual data entry. This feature is ideal for businesses looking to enhance their expense tracking and management efficiency.
Efficient receipt scanning
  • Pleo offers efficient receipt scanning capabilities, allowing employees to capture and categorize expenses on the go. This feature is particularly useful for businesses with employees who frequently travel or work remotely, ensuring accurate and timely expense reporting.
Limited integration options
  • While Pleo integrates with key accounting software, its range of integration options is more limited compared to other expense management tools. This limitation may be a drawback for businesses with diverse software ecosystems that require extensive integration capabilities.
Higher cost for advanced features
  • Pleo's advanced features, such as smart company cards, come at a higher cost, which may not be feasible for all businesses. Companies with budget constraints may need to carefully evaluate the cost-benefit ratio before opting for Pleo's premium features.

Zoho Expense vs Pleo: At A Glance

Decision FactorZoho ExpensePleo
Value to Price
Excellent4.5
Good4.2
Ease of Use
Good4.2
Excellent4.4
Functionality
Excellent4.4
Excellent4.3
Scalability
Excellent4.3
Good4.1
Integrations
Excellent4.4
Good4.2
Customer Support
Good4.2
Good4.0
Security
Excellent4.3
Good4.1
Overall Rating
Excellent4.3
Good4.1

Value to Price

Zoho Expense offers a robust set of features at a competitive price, making it a great value for businesses looking to streamline their expense management processes. Pleo, while slightly more expensive, provides unique features like smart company cards that can justify the cost for businesses needing such functionality. If you are looking for a cost-effective solution with comprehensive features, Zoho Expense might be the better choice.

Ease of Use

Pleo shines in terms of ease of use with its intuitive interface and straightforward setup process, making it ideal for businesses that prioritize user-friendliness. Zoho Expense, while also user-friendly, may require a bit more time to fully explore its extensive features. If ease of use is your top priority, Pleo could be the better option.

Functionality

Both Zoho Expense and Pleo offer a wide range of functionalities, but Zoho Expense stands out with its advanced reporting and analytics capabilities. Pleo's functionality is enhanced by its smart card feature, which simplifies expense tracking. If you need detailed reporting and analytics, Zoho Expense is the tool to consider.

Scalability

Zoho Expense is highly scalable, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Pleo also offers scalability but is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses. If your business is growing rapidly and you need a tool that can scale with you, Zoho Expense is a strong contender.

Integrations

Zoho Expense offers a wide range of integrations with popular accounting and business tools, providing flexibility for businesses with diverse software ecosystems. Pleo also integrates with key accounting software but has a more limited range. If extensive integrations are crucial for your business, Zoho Expense is the better choice.

Customer Support

Zoho Expense provides reliable customer support with various channels, including live chat and email. Pleo offers good support but may not be as comprehensive as Zoho's. If having robust customer support is important to you, Zoho Expense might be the better option.

Security

Both Zoho Expense and Pleo prioritize security, offering features like data encryption and secure access controls. Zoho Expense has a slight edge with its comprehensive security protocols. If security is a top concern, Zoho Expense could be the more secure choice.

Overall Rating

Zoho Expense scores slightly higher overall due to its comprehensive features, scalability, and value for money. Pleo is a strong contender with its ease of use and innovative features. If you need a well-rounded expense management tool, Zoho Expense is the better option.

Zoho Expense vs Pleo: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features

FeaturesZoho ExpensePleo
Automated Expense Reporting
Excellent4.5
Excellent4.3
Receipt Scanning
Excellent4.4
Excellent4.5
Smart Company Cards
Good4.2
Excellent4.6
Real-time Tracking
Excellent4.3
Excellent4.4
Integration with Accounting Software
Excellent4.5
Excellent4.3
Policy Enforcement
Excellent4.4
Good4.2

Automated Expense Reporting

Zoho Expense excels in automated expense reporting, offering a seamless process that reduces manual entry and errors. Pleo also provides automated reporting but focuses more on simplifying the user experience with its smart card feature. If you prioritize detailed and automated reporting, Zoho Expense is the better choice.

Receipt Scanning

Both Zoho Expense and Pleo offer efficient receipt scanning capabilities. Pleo's receipt scanning is particularly user-friendly, making it easy for employees to capture and categorize expenses on the go. If you need a tool with excellent receipt scanning, Pleo might be the better option.

Smart Company Cards

Pleo's standout feature is its smart company cards, which automatically categorize expenses and simplify the approval process. Zoho Expense offers similar functionality but without the smart card integration. If smart company cards are a priority, Pleo is the tool to consider.

Real-time Tracking

Both tools offer real-time tracking, but Pleo's platform is designed to provide instant updates and notifications, enhancing the user experience. Zoho Expense also offers real-time tracking but focuses more on comprehensive reporting. If real-time updates are crucial, Pleo is the better choice.

Integration with Accounting Software

Zoho Expense offers extensive integration options with popular accounting software, providing flexibility for businesses with diverse needs. Pleo also integrates with key accounting tools but has a more limited range. If integration is a priority, Zoho Expense is the better option.

Policy Enforcement

Zoho Expense provides robust policy enforcement features, allowing businesses to set and enforce spending limits and guidelines. Pleo offers similar capabilities but focuses more on user-friendly policy management. If strict policy enforcement is important, Zoho Expense is the tool to choose.

Pricing Comparison of Zoho Expense and Pleo

To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Zoho Expense and Pleo. This comparison will highlight the best option for managing your business expenses.

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Zoho Expense Pricing Plans

Free
For small businesses
$0

per month

Get Startedright_arrow
Free plan includes:
  • 5 GB of receipt storage for managing documents.
  • 20 receipt autoscans to simplify data entry.
  • Multicurrency expenses for global transactions.
  • Customer and project tracking for detailed insights.
Standard
For growing businesses
$3

per user/month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Includes Free, plus:
  • Corporate card reconciliation for accurate financial tracking.
  • Cash advances to manage employee expenses.
  • Multilevel approval for streamlined expense management.
  • Access delegation for flexible user management.
Premium
For global businesses
$5

per user/month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Includes Standard, plus:
  • Travel requests to manage business trips.
  • Purchase requests for streamlined procurement.
  • Advanced approval for complex workflows.
  • Per diem automation for simplified allowances.
Custom
For large enterprises
Contact sales
Request Pricingright_arrow
Includes Premium, plus:
  • Around-the-clock priority global support for urgent needs.
  • Personalized implementation, onboarding, and training.
  • Custom ERP integrations for seamless operations.
  • Multi-entity management for complex organizations.
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Pleo Pricing Plans

Starter
For Small Teams
£0

Free

Get Startedright_arrow
Starter includes:
  • Automate expense management and bookkeeping efficiently.
  • Real-time expense tracking for better financial control.
  • Integrates seamlessly with accounting systems.
  • Provides cards and invoices for streamlined operations.
Essential
For Growing Businesses
£39

per month

Try For Freeright_arrow
Includes Starter, plus:
  • Flexible card limits to suit business needs.
  • Vendor cards and recurring vendor management.
  • Automated review flows for efficient processing.
  • Streamline all expenses and accounts payable.
Advanced
For Large Enterprises
£89

per month

Book a Demoright_arrow
Includes Essential, plus:
  • Multi-entity management for complex organizations.
  • Advanced controls and user roles for security.
  • HRIS integrations for seamless HR management.
  • Phone support for eligible customers.
Beyond
For Enterprises with Complex Needs
£179

per month

Book a Demoright_arrow
Includes Advanced, plus:
  • Spending insights for strategic decision-making.
  • Sub-wallets for detailed financial management.
  • Assisted onboarding for smooth transition.
  • Concierge support and customer success manager.

Our Rating Methodology

We thoroughly evaluate each expense management tool, focusing on key factors like functionality, ease of use, and integrations. By analyzing user reviews and conducting hands-on testing, we ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each factor is weighted by importance to deliver a reliable final rating, helping you make informed decisions.

Decision FactorScoring Weight
Value to Price
20%
20%
Ease of Use
20%
15%
Functionality
20%
25%
Scalability
20%
15%
Integrations
20%
10%
Customer Support
20%
10%
Security
20%
5%

Zoho Expense or Pleo: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?

Choose Zoho Expense If You Need ...

  • Comprehensive expense management solution

    If you are a business looking for a comprehensive expense management solution with robust reporting and analytics capabilities, Zoho Expense is the ideal choice. Its wide range of integrations and policy enforcement features make it a valuable tool for finance teams.

  • Extensive integration options

    If your business relies on a diverse software ecosystem and requires extensive integration options, Zoho Expense is the better choice. Its ability to connect with various accounting and business tools ensures seamless data flow and reduces manual data entry.

Choose Pleo If You Need ...

  • User-friendly expense management

    If you are a business seeking a user-friendly expense management solution with smart company cards, Pleo is the ideal choice. Its intuitive interface and efficient receipt scanning capabilities make it easy for employees to manage their expenses.

  • Simplified expense tracking

    If your business prioritizes simplified expense tracking and real-time updates, Pleo is the better option. Its smart company cards and real-time tracking features enhance the user experience and streamline the approval process.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Author

Martin Lunendonk

Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.